By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux

Overtaking in Monaco is notoriously difficult, which means the weekend’s most critical moments may arrive long before this Sunday’s chequered flag.

The real drama could peak in qualifying on Saturday, where every millisecond matters and track position is king. The fight for the front row promises to be intense - will it be a McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari on pole?

With the 2025 season already delivering unexpected twists, the streets of Monte Carlo are set to add another layer of unpredictability. While Red Bull enters the weekend on a high after Max Verstappen’s magnificent victory at Imola, there is no doubt that strong challenges will come from the McLaren drivers.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have both shown exceptionally strong form in recent races and will undoubtedly be genuine threats on a track where precision matters most.

Ferrari, meanwhile, will be desperate to give Charles Leclerc (pictured) another home win, reprising the team’s 2024 triumph. While recent race results my not have been stellar by both his and Lewis Hamilton’s high standards, both arrive in solid form looking for some Monaco luck.

Mercedes may be dark horses this weekend. If either George Russell or rookie Kimi Antonelli can hook up a perfect lap on Saturday, they could be in the mix for pole -and possibly more.

Ultimately, strategy and tyre management will still play key roles, but Monaco remains that rare race where track position often dictates outcome. For fans, Saturday’s qualifying shootout could deliver the weekend’s defining moment.

One mistake means the wall. One lap of brilliance could mean victory. In Monaco, it’s all about the margins - and a sprinkling of Monaco magic.